Robotpark ACADEMY » Military Robots

Human Rights Activists Urge Ban on Killer Robots 31027

Gokhan Isgor — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:06:34 +0000

Nobel Peace laureate Jody Williams is joining with Human Rights Watch to oppose the creation of killer robots — fully autonomous weapons that could select and engage targets without human intervention. In a new report, HRW warns such weapons would undermine the safety of civilians in armed conflict; violate international humanitarian law; and blur the lines of accountability for war crimes. Fully autonomous weapons do not exist yet, but high-tech militaries are moving in that direction with the United States taking the lead. Williams, winner of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, joins us along with Steve Goose, director of Human Rights Watch’s Arms Division.

Links

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/democracynow
Twitter: @democracynow
Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/democracynow
Listen on SoundCloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/democracynow
Daily Email News Digest: http://www.democracynow.org/subscribe

The post Human Rights Activists Urge Ban on Killer Robots 31027 appeared first on Robotpark ACADEMY.

New War Era Quadrotor Machine Gun 31023

Gokhan Isgor — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:15:18 +0000

Links:

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/FPSRUSSIA
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNPJMk2fgJU

The post New War Era Quadrotor Machine Gun 31023 appeared first on Robotpark ACADEMY.

DARPA’s Robotic Suspension System – M3 Program – 11035

Gokhan Isgor — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 19:00:14 +0000

The use of ground robots in military explosive-ordinance-disposal missions already saves many lives and prevents thousands of other casualties. If the current limitations on mobility and manipulation capabilities of robots can be overcome, robots could potentially assist warfighters across a greater range of missions. DARPA’s Maximum Mobility and Manipulation (M3) program seeks to create and demonstrate significant scientific and engineering advances in robot mobility and manipulation capabilities.

This video shows a modified iRobot 510 PackBot equipped with an advanced suspension system maneuvering on a test course. The compliant suspension improves the robot’s mobility over rough and uneven terrain. The technological enhancement enables faster transit speeds, climbing of very steep slopes, improved heading control, greater accommodation of debris entering the suspension and reduced impact forces on carried payloads.

What is M3

M3 is a research program aimed at improving robot capabilities through fundamentally new approaches to the engineering of better design tools, fabrication methods and control algorithms. The program covers scientific advancement across four parallel tracks: design tools, fabrication methodologies, control methods and technology-demonstration prototypes. The prototypes demonstrated are designed to test technological advances in robotics across a range of functions, and are not necessarily intended to enter production for military use.

For more information on the M3 program, please visit: http://go.usa.gov/E0B

Video: http://youtu.be/wUsyMDvPW6U

The post DARPA’s Robotic Suspension System – M3 Program – 11035 appeared first on Robotpark ACADEMY.

LS3 – Legged Squad Support System (Boston Dynamics) – 11020

Gokhan Isgor — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 19:47:06 +0000

The Legged Squad Support System (LS3) is a rough-terrain robot developed by Boston Dynamics with funding from DARPA and the US Marine Corps. It is designed to carry 400 lbs of payload and travel 20 miles without refueling. LS3 has sensors that let it follow a human leader while avoiding obstacles in the terrain.

http://youtu.be/R7ezXBEBE6U

LS3 is a dynamic robot designed to go anywhere Soldiers and Marines go on foot. Each LS3 will carry up to 400 lbs of gear and enough fuel for missions covering 20 miles and lasting 24 hours. LS3 will not need a driver, because it will automatically follow a leader using computer vision or travel to designated locations using sensing and GPS. The development of LS3 will take 30 months, with first walk out scheduled for 2012. The development of LS3 is being funded by DARPA and the US Marine Corps.

Boston Dynamics has assembled an extraordinary team to develop the LS3, including engineers and scientists from Boston Dynamics, Bell Helicopter, AAI Corporation, Carnegie Mellon, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Woodward HRT.

The post LS3 – Legged Squad Support System (Boston Dynamics) – 11020 appeared first on Robotpark ACADEMY.